seasonal plants by deryn thorpe bright bulbs Not sure which bulbs will grow in your climate? Use this handy guide ardeners often associate bulbs with spring-flowering varieties that grow in cooler climates, but there are varieties that thrive in every part of Australia. We Gcan use techniques to trick bulbs into flowering outside their climate zone, but the surest path to success is to choose varieties suited to your area. Most bulbs are waterwise. Spring bulbs grow and flower with winter and spring rains, and die down in summer. Autumn-flowering bulbs shoot with the autumn rains and die back when it gets cold. The more well-known bulbs, such as tulips, daffodils and Dutch iris, come from cooler parts of Europe and central Asia, so they grow well in southern and eastern Australia, the tablelands around Cairns, the hills west of Brisbane and the south-west corner of Western Australia. These can be bought now and planted in cool climates next month, or planted mid-May in hot areas. I garden in Perth and, while most of these popular bulbs cope with my hot, dry conditions, I have more success with those from the Mediterranean regions of southern Africa and southern Europe, which are used to occasional water shortages. top choices I have drifts of spring star flower, Spanish bluebell and snowflakes naturalising beneath my trees; and babiana, jonquil, chincherinchee, and the autumn- flowering nerine through my cottage gardens. However, the true survivors are the miniature gladiolus, freesia and belladonna lily that line the driveway where there’s gutless, unimproved sand and no reticulation. Other good varieties for naturalising include corn lily (Ixia), harlequin flower (Sparaxis), harvest brodiaea GAP (Brodiaea coronaria), Cuban lily (Scilla peruviana) and cape cowslip (Lachenalia). All have weed potential, PHOTO however, so avoid planting them near bushland. GARDENING AUSTRALIA March 2015 41 seasonal plants Here are five top bulb THE ManY FACes OF BulBS Clockwise from far left Leucojum choices for those living aestivum ‘Gravetye Giant’ look in hot, dry areas, cool great in drifts; Babiana stricta flower late spring;Ranunculus zones, and the tropics. asiaticus ‘Gambit Mix’ make excellent cut flowers; the autumn- Bulbs must be fed regularly floweringAmaryllis belladonna. Key in their first growing season to full sun semi-shade enable flowers the following year shade suitable for pots In early autumn I treat myself to bags of inexpensive frost resistant anemones and ranunculi. I only get a handful of flowers the second year, but gardeners with loamy soil will have more success. It’s worth the effort for just one year’s flowers as they put on a prolific garden display. In the tropics, you can only succeed with spring- mediterranean flowering European bulbs by growing them as potted • baboon flower (Babiana annuals. The secret is providing six to eight weeks’ stricta) Plant at least 15cm deep. chilling in the refrigerator before planting so the bulbs Leave in the ground to multiply. believe they have been through a cold winter. This Ribbed hairy leaves and pink method is also recommended for areas of Australia to purple cup-shaped blooms. without regular frosts. Chilled bulbs such as daffodils, Flowers in late spring. tulips, hyacinth, crocus and Dutch iris grow taller, 10cm 15–30cm germinate sooner and flower earlier than unchilled • belladonna lily (Amaryllis bulbs. In the tropics, keep them out of the rain and belladonna) Summer-dormant, bring them inside when they start blooming. autumn flowering. White or There are a number of bulbs that do well in a tropical pink scented flowers on tall garden with minimal care. These include blood lily stems followed by strappy (Haemanthus), Crinum, fire lily (Cyrtanthus), Jacobean leaves. Prefers sun. Plant lily (Sprekelia), Hippeastrum, society garlic (Tulbaghia), with neck exposed. Leave to Habranthus, spider lily (Hymenocallis) and rainflower multiply; no supplementary (Zephyranthes). Native bulbs such as the Brisbane lily water needed when dormant. (Proiphys cunninghamii), garland lily (Calostemma 30–50cm 60cm purpureum) and swamp lily (Crinum pedunculatum) • ranunculus (Ranunculus spp.) are all trouble free and create a lush, tropical look. Suits all climates except tropical. Poppy-like, ruffled, semi-double growing advice and double blooms in all colours Newly purchased bulbs have stored nutrients to except blue. Excellent as cut support flowers the first year after planting. However, flowers. Plant 5cm deep with they must be fed regularly during their first growing claws facing downwards. season to enable flowers the following year. 12cm 40–50cm Bulbs need well-drained soil with a generous supply • snowflake (Leucojum of humus. Complete fertiliser high in phosphorus and aestivum) Leave undisturbed potash must be worked in well in advance and not for years, plant in drifts beneath allowed to touch the bulb. Alternatively, enrich the soil trees. Masses of dainty white with lots of organic matter and add blood and bone bells with green dots on petal when flower buds appear. If you’re planting only a few tips in late winter to spring. bulbs, it’s easiest to buy a small bag of bulb-growing mix. 30cm 45–55cm Plant bulbs to a depth that’s twice their height – a bit & GAP • spring star flower (Ipheion deeper in sandy soil and warm areas – and two-bulb uniflorum) Star-shaped faces images widths apart for a clumped effect. Put bulbs into the D pointing upwards. Usually blue; soil with the pointy end up, except ranunculus and RL white also available. Produced wo anemone, which should be planted pointy end down. N from mid-winter to mid-spring. de When flowers finish, continually feed bulbs with liquid R Linear foliage. Weed potential. ga fertiliser until the foliage dies down to supply bulbs S 15–20cm 5cm O with food for next year’s flowers. Tulips should be lifted annually when their leaves have completely withered. PHOT 42 March 2015 GARDENING AUSTRALIA GARDENING AUSTRALIA March 2015 43 seasonal plants cool • daffodil (Narcissus spp.) Bright yellow, cream or yellow/orange blooms with central trumpet. Includes miniatures. Leave to naturalise if soil drains freely. 15cm 10–60cm • Dutch iris (Iris Dutch hybrids) Blue, purple, yellow or white flowers with three main petals in tall stems and very fine foliage. Excellent cut flower; prefers wind protection. Plant in clumps. 12cm 60–80cm • saffron crocus (Crocus sativus) Purple autumn flowers, with three golden stigmas per bloom, harvested for saffron. Needs winter-spring rain and dry summers. 10cm 40cm • snake’s head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris) Square-shouldered bell flower with checkered, maroon colouring. Needs fertile soil with damp summers. Prefers semi-shade beneath deciduous trees. 5cm 40cm ( spp.) Spectacular flowers WHen in BLOOM • tulip Tulipa Clockwise from that come in all colours and many forms. top left Fritillaria Best lifted and stored after flowering. meleagris; Iris Stems are shorter in warm climates. ‘Professor Blaauw’; Crocus sativus. 15cm 20–80cm tropical • amaryllis (Hippeastrum hybrid cultivars) Plant with necks out images of the ground. Spring/summer flowering, big blooms with single, D double or spider flowers. Prefers full sun but tolerates semi-shade. RL Great in a pot. Needs shelter from frost and rain in winter. wo N N 40cm 40–60cm de R A blood lily ( ) Red, cup-shaped blooms with G • Haemanthus coccineus S yellow stamens in autumn and two, huge, strappy or tongue-like O standOuts leaves after flowering. Beware: many are toxic to humans and animals. Cyrtanthus elatus. PHOT Below Hymenocallis 50cm–1.5m 15–40cm speciosa. Far right • Scarborough lily (Cyrtanthus elatus syn. Vallota speciosa) Hippeastrum papilio. Evergreen strappy foliage with orange-red, funnel-shaped blooms in summer/autumn. Popular cut flower. Feed weekly. 30cm 45cm • spider lily (Hymenocallis spp.) Fine white flowers with long curled petals in summer. Strappy foliage; flowers best in sun. 25cm 60cm • swamp lily (Crinum pedunculatum) Unfussy native for swampy or saline soils and coastal positions. Clusters of white fragrant flowers in spring and summer. 2–4m 1–2.5m GA 44 March 2015 GARDENING AUSTRALIA.